Written Answers. - Food Safety.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
75
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Health
if his attention has been drawn to warnings by food and veterinary experts that an outbreak of E-coli 0157 poisoning, similar to that which resulted in the deaths of 19 people in Scotland, is just waiting to happen in Ireland; if such warnings are being heeded or acted on by his Department; the measures, if any, his Department has in place or proposes to adopt to combat the potential spread of E-coli infection in meat retailing premises, meat plants, abattoirs, on farms and in cattle.
[12726/97]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
76
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Health
if meat retailing outlets are currently being operated without licence or supervision in view of the industrial action of health board environmental health officers; whether as in the United Kingdom his Department plans to launch an E-coli awareness campaign, including education on potential hazards of slurry spreading and handling and the presentation of clean animals at meat plants, abattoirs and marts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12727/97]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together.
While all cases of E-coli 0157 infection in Ireland have been sporadic and there have not been epidemics of the infection here, I believe, nevertheless, that it is imperative that the medical profession, the public, and all persons engaged in food preparation are aware of E-coli 0157 and of the simple measures by which infection can be prevented.
For several years now, my Department has recognised the potentially serious implications of E-coli 0157 infection and has taken steps to increase awareness of it. A report on the matter by the Food Safety Advisory Committee was circulated to all health boards in October 1994 with an instruction that it should be brought to the attention of all officers engaged in food control operations. A reminder to this effect was issued in July 1995. A further reminder issued in December 1996, this time to all directors of public health in the health boards. The directors were asked to remind doctors and laboratories to be particularly vigilant in reporting cases of food poisoning, with a view to identifying any possible cases of the E-coli 0157 infection.
More recently, following advice from the Food Safety Advisory Board, the Health Promotion Unit of my Department has prepared a leaflet for distribution to the general public on this matter. The leaflet advises, in particular, on the importance of properly cooking meat products, on the need to properly wash raw fruit and vegetables before eating, and on the importance of observing good food hygiene and personal hygiene practices to prevent and control outbreaks of E-coli 0157 infection.
As the Deputy has mentioned in his question, the UK authorities recently published the report of the Pennington Group which was set up to examine the circumstances leading to the 1996 outbreak of E-coli 0157 infection in Scotland, the implictions for food safety and the lessons to be learned. I am now having the Pennington report considered by the Food Safety Advisory Board and I will keep the Irish situation under review in the light of the board's advice to me in the matter.
One of the conclusions of the Pennington report is the need for improved surveillance of E-coli 0157 and other foodborne diseases. At the moment in Ireland there is a legal requirement, under the Infectious Diseases Regulations 1989-96, for the notification of cases of food poisoning including E-coli 0157 infection. The Deputy will be aware that, in addition to this notification system, I have now accepted the need for a national communicable disease surveillance which will provide a comprehensive broad based approach to the prevention of disease, including foodborne diseases. My Department is currently considering the organisational and structural issues involved in conjunction with the relevant agencies and professional interests, and is also meeting with the Food Safety Advisory Board on the matter.
On the issue of meat retailing outlets, the hygiene standards to be observed in premises engaged in the provision of food services to the public are set out in the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1950-89. These regulations are enforced on a day-to-day basis by the environmental health services of the eight health boards through programmes of inspection, sampling and monitoring. Where the hygiene standards in a food premises are found not to be in accordance with the regulations, there is provision whereby the relevant health board can take a prosecution for breach of the food hygiene regulations against the proprietor of the premises or the undertaking operating in the premises, as appropriate. Where a health board considers a food premises to pose a grave and immediate danger to public health, the health board can apply to the District Court for the immediate closure of that food business. In addition, a health board has the power to seize, remove and detain food which is suspected of being diseased, contaminated or otherwise unfit for human consumption.
As the Deputy has indicated in his question, the environmental health officers in the health boards are currently pursuing a limited form of industrial action in connection with legislative measures introduced since 1981. I can assure the Deputy, however, that the environmental health officers are still carrying out inspection and monitoring of food premises.
The Deputy refers to the state of animals when presented at marts, abattoris and meat plants. I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, in conjunction with Teagasc — the National Agricultural Advisory Service — is endeavouring to raise awareness among the farming community of the absolute necessity to present animals in a clean condition at meat plants and abattoirs. Furthermore, I understand that the maintenance of high operational standards during carcass dressing and, in particular during hide removal and evisceration is being re-emphasised in all cattle and sheep slaughter plants.
The landspreading of wastes, including slurry spreading, are subject to pollution controls put in place by my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, with whom the Deputy may wish to pursue this aspect of his questions.
Finally, I assure Deputies of my strong commitment to the question of food safety. Deputies are aware that the Government has agreed to the establishment of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland which will be dedicated to ensuring compliance with the very best food safety and hygiene standards. The preparation of the necessary legislation is under way but, meanwhile, the interim Food Safety Authority of Ireland is proceeding with putting in place the necessary structures and administrative systems to ensure the statutory board will be able to make a strong and immediate impact in this area.
